Viking Medical Systems Inc. (OTC:VKNG) said it will promote its current COO, John “Jed” Kennedy, to its corner suite.

The Westborough, Mass.-based developer of surgical imaging and vision systems said Kennedy will assume the title of CEO after chairman William Bopp steps down as chief executive as a condition of a 2007 re-capitalization.

Kennedy, 52, is a veteran of several medical device firms, including senior positions at Vista Medical Technologies (which was acquired by Viking in 2004) and a long tenure at Andover, Mass.-based Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, where he worked for 13 years, until 1997.

Kennedy will take the reins from Bopp during the first week of January, according to a press release.

Last month, Viking posted third-quarter sales of $2 million for the three months ended Sept. 30, up 25.8 percent compared with $1.6 million during the same period last year.